Canadian Commercial Corporation

Canadian Commercial Corporation
Agency overview
Formed1946
JurisdictionGovernment of Canada
HeadquartersOttawa
Minister responsible
Agency executive
  • Robert Kwon, President and Chief Executive Officer
Websitewww.ccc.ca

The Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC; French: Corporation commerciale canadienne) is a Canadian federal Crown corporation mandated to support the growth of international trade by helping Canadian exporters gain access to foreign government procurement markets and by helping government buyers abroad to obtain goods from Canada.[1] The ability to enter into commercial contracts as a Government of Canada entity through CCC is designed to give Canadian exporters the opportunity to mitigate risks associated with foreign procurement and international contracting.[1][2] Canadian businesses exported $2.92 billion in products and services through CCC contracts during the CCC’s 2020-2021 fiscal year. [3]

The Corporation was established in 1946 by an Act of the Parliament of Canada, the Canadian Commercial Corporation Act, and is accountable to the Parliament of Canada through the Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development.

The Act outlines CCC’s broad mandate, which is to assist in the development of trade by helping Canadian exporters to access markets abroad and by helping foreign buyers obtain goods from Canada. The legislation also provides the Corporation with a range of powers, including the ability to export goods from Canada either as principal or as agent in such a manner and to such an extent as it deems appropriate. As a result, CCC negotiates and executes bilateral government to government (or intergovernmental) procurement arrangements, facilitating export transactions on behalf of Canadian exporters.[4]

As Canada’s international contracting agency, CCC is mandated to support Canadian business targeting public sector procurement markets as a prime contractor for government to government (G2G) contracts or as a procurement agent for foreign governments importing Canadian goods and services.

CCC’s core business is delivered under the 1956 Canada-U.S. Defence Production Sharing Agreement (DPSA), which governs procurement of Canadian products and services by the U.S. Department of Defense (U.S. DoD). CCC administers U.S. defence purchases above US$250,000[5] and has a similar agreement with NASA.[6] These agreements provide special access for Canadian companies to U.S. aerospace and defence markets. Under the DPSA, Canadian exporters are generally treated the same as domestic suppliers by the U.S. DoD including under the Buy America provisions.[7]

CCC also works with Canadian exporters to pursue international opportunities where G2G contracting is considered by both Canada and the buying government as a mechanism to advance mutual economic interests and bilateral relationships. CCC’s guarantee of contract performance is designed to add incentive for foreign governments to access Canadian expertise for priority projects. The Corporation negotiates deals and manages contracts in a broad range of sectors, including defence electronics, environmental technologies, capital infrastructure projects, information and communications technology, transportation equipment, electrical power equipment. These services are available to small and medium-sized Canadian exporters in addition to foreign government buyers.[2]

  1. ^ a b Canada, Government of (2017-11-20). "Board Profile - Canadian Commercial Corporation". appointments.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  2. ^ a b "Bill C-41 - An Act to amend the Canadian Commercial Corporation Act (LS-416E)". publications.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  3. ^ Growing and Diversifying Canadian Exports: CCC Annual Report 2020–2021
  4. ^ "Canadian Commercial Corporation Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-14)". laws-lois.justice.gc.ca. 12 December 2006. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  5. ^ "Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement". acquisition.gov. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  6. ^ Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, CanadExport, Vol. 20, No. 14, September 3, 2002
  7. ^ "Government procurement and Biden’s Buy American policies: A way forward" Macdonald-Laurier Institute, February 2021